In March, the planning commission recommended that self-storage facilities be prohibited within the South Vallejo Industrial Park. However, the City Council disagreed, allowing the project to move forward.

On Monday night, the commission reviewed the project design, finding it was inadequate for the highly visible location.

"I think what we should be getting is a building that makes a statement as people start to enter the downtown," Commissioner Robert Schussel said during the lengthy hearing. "And I think what the applicant has shown ... doesn't exemplify what Vallejo deserves."

Schussel added he'd like to see an "award-winning" design.

The submitted plans had called for three single-story buildings and one two-story building following a relatively standard industry design.

Rather than force a vote and appeal to the council, self-storage developers George Huff of Veneto West and Ed Boersma of Cubix Construction offered to address landscaping, architectural and drainage issues in exchange for having the main entrance on Sonoma Boulevard. The panel agreed to the compromise.